Sky Trek Tower

Sky Trek Tower is a 285-foot (87 m)[note 1] gyro tower located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, United States. Manufactured by Intamin, the attraction is the tallest free-standing structure in Lake County, Illinois. Opening on June 28, 1977, the ride was part of an expansion program by the Marriott Corporation following the opening of their Great America parks the year prior. From 2019 to 2023, the ride was closed to the public.

Sky Trek Tower
Six Flags Great America
AreaCarousel Plaza
Coordinates42.3694°N 87.9361°W / 42.3694; -87.9361
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 28, 1977 (1977-06-28)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeObservation tower
ManufacturerIntamin
ModelGyro tower
Height285 ft (87 m)

History
The attraction was originally painted white.

After the opening of Marriott's Great America in 1976, the Marriott Corporation decided to build an Intamin gyro tower model at the theme park as part of an expansion program for the 1977 season.[1] After fabrication in Germany, the attraction was carried by ship to the United States.[2][3] With an expected opening of late-May 1977, the attraction's tip was built at a height of 330 feet (100 m) while the architectural height was 285 feet (87 m).[4] After construction on the attraction, the ride officially opened to the public on June 28, 1977, as the tallest free-standing structure in Lake County, Illinois.[5] Additionally, it was the first attraction located at the park to require a variance above Gurnee, Illinois height variance of 125 feet (38 m).[6][7] A photograph of the construction of the attraction by Chicago Tribune photographer Luigi Mendocino won the Chicago Builders' Association's photography competition on December 13, 1977.[8]

Marriott Corporation would later open a ride of the same model called the "Sky Tower" for the 1979 season at the park's then-sister park of the same name, later renamed to California's Great America. The height of that attraction was shortened to 200 feet (61 m) due to the proximity of San Jose International Airport.[9]

The attraction was repainted in 2009 by Baynum Painting from the original white color to blue with the words "Six Flags" on the side of the color.[10] Since 2019, the ride was temporarily closed, and remained closed in the following years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ride's reopening was announced on WGN-TV, and reopened on May 27, 2023.[11]

Ride experience

The cabin rises up 285 feet (87 m) to the ride's architectural peak and back down. During the ride, facts about the history of Six Flags Great America are given and on clear days, gives views of the Chicago skyline.[2]

Incidents

On June 22, 2015, the cabin stopped abruptly, trapping riders for over two hours before they were released through an emergency staircase. The park clarified that the ride did not drop at high speeds.[7][12] A year later, on September 22, 2016, an employee was immobilized by a back ache while erecting an inflatable gorilla for the park's Halloween event Six Flags Fright Fest. He was rescued by the Gurnee Fire Department.[13]

See also

References
Notes
  1. This is the height without the tip of the tower. With the tip of the tower, the ride is 330 feet (100 m) tall.
References
  1. "Expanded Great America opens May 7". The Rock Island Argus. April 3, 1977. p. 48. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. "Sky Trek Tower". Six Flags. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. "Clipped From The Rock Island Argus". The Rock Island Argus. May 4, 1977. p. 36. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. "Up and away! The view is spectacular". Chicago Tribune. May 2, 1977. p. 92. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. "At 40, Great America's still a thriller". Chicago Tribune. May 29, 2016. pp. 1–10. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. "Clipped From Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. June 29, 1977. p. 3. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  7. Moran, Dan (June 22, 2015). "Great America: Sky Trek Tower didn't drop at high speed". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  8. "Tribune lensman Mendocino lauded". Chicago Tribune. December 14, 1977. p. 19. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  9. "Sky Trek Tower / Sky Tower". GREATAMERICAparks.com. March 13, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. "Sky Trek Tower". Baynum Painting. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  11. Leshock, Marcus (May 25, 2023). "Sky Trek Tower reopening at Six Flags Great America". WGN-TV. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  12. "Visitors Had To Climb Down Six Flags' 30-Story Sky Trek Tower After Breakdown". The Chicagoist. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. "Six Flags employee rescued while erecting inflatable gorilla". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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